Any of the Above

I watched the first Republican Presidential Debate on Fox News last Wednesday night.  I wasn't disappointed.  Despite the fact that some major potential candidates have yet to join the fray, those that did participate gave a good account of themselves.  More importantly, while any one of them may never eventually become president, any one of them would make a better president than the one we currently have.

While a great number of people who watched the debate scored businessman Herman Cain as the winner, I had him running a close second to Tim Pawlenty.  Governor Pawlenty has become more polished and "presidential" than when I first met him two years ago in Grand Rapids at a Republican state convention.  He has a tremendous record of achievement but to me he came off bit too coached and cautious.  Herman Cain tossed off some terrific lines, especially in defense of his lack of political experience.  When asked if that lack of experience would hinder his chances, he answered that we already have a lot of experienced politicians in Washington and replied, "How's that workin' for you?"

Ron Paul's libertarian message has made me think more about my own political ideology, but I still think his brand of politics is a bit too isolationist.  Governor Gary Johnson's brand of libertarianism comes closer to home.  I like his cost-benefit analysis approach to government spending and his call to end the failed war on drugs, but I fear he's too flakey for the big stage.  Former Senator Rick Santorum professed to be the tip of the spear for many conservatives on several social issues, but again, I don't think he's quite ready for prime time.

This month promises to mark the entrance into the race for perhaps some additional candidates including Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney and Mitch Daniels.  I suspect there will be others as well who eventually get into the race over the course of the next several months.  I'm not concerned that the Republicans don't have a favorite thus far, or that it's getting too late to compete against the Obama reelection monolith.  Nothing could be more absurd.  Whenever I hear on the news how some potential Republican candidates have too much baggage, or pose this problem or that for the electorate, I think are you kidding me?  Have you seen who's in the White House?

Saginaw County Sheriff's Millage

Now that the voters of Saginaw County, all 16% of them, have passed a 1-mill tax increase to save the sheriff's department and the county jail from deeper cuts, perhaps the addition of an extra $4.4 million will provide a cushion for making real budgetary reforms.  Now that eminent threats to cuts in public safety have been suspended, at least temporarily, perhaps thoughtful and serious negotiations with our employee unions could lead to additional and lasting savings down the road.  Without fixing our structural deficits, I fear we will only replay this scenario once again in the very near future.  As I and so many others have said before, we cannot continue to tax and spend our way to prosperity.

What I am afraid will happen however will be just the opposite.  While the $4.4 million have ostensibly been advertised to save 35 jobs and 160 beds in our county jail, I hope the unions don't see this as found money and think it's time to increase their ranks or raise compensation and benefits.  Yes I am aware that county employees, for the most part, have not had a raise is some time, but the county will still be spending more than it takes in this year and for the foreseeable future.  Our budgets are unsustainable, such as they are, and must be addressed, lest we concede local control and authority to Lansing managers.  As I recall, thousands of union protesters recently filled our state's capitol in protest to emergency financial manager legislation.  Where will they stand in helping to keep Saginaw County solvent, prosperous, and growing?

Closure

The face of Islamic terrorism, Osama bin Laden, is dead.  Alluha akbar!  Or for us Westerners, Praise the Lord, and God bless America.  Congratulations to President Barack Obama for literally putting the nail in the coffin of this most elusive of criminals.  Make no mistake though, this outcome was always an eventuality.  When America wants something as bad as we wanted this guy to die, time is the only real obstacle.  And, for as much as the media would like to beatify Obama for a decision any sitting president would have made, it's indeed serendipitous when fortuity and opportunity finally converge.  Nevertheless, the deed is done so perhaps we can all move on.